Impatiens plant names ‘DANMU24’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Impatiens  cultivar named ‘DANMU24’ is disclosed, characterized by having a compact, free-branching, upright and rounded plant habit, distinctive double salmon colored flowers, and small foliage. The new variety is an  Impatiens,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘DANMU24’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program, under thedirection of the inventor, Gabriel Danziger. The objective of thebreeding program was to produce plants of Impatiens walleriana withcompact growth habits and double flowers. The seed parent is theunpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Impatienswalleriana ‘183HF.’ The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietaryseedling variety referred to as Impatiens walleriana ‘248HF.’ The newvariety was discovered in June 2006, by the inventor in a group ofseedlings resulting from that crossing, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANMU24’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in June 2006. Subsequent reproduction has shownthat the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced trueto type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANMU24’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANMU24’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANMU24’ as a new and distinct Impatienscultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Small leaves compared to other commercial Impatiens        varieties.    -   3. Distinctive salmon flower color.    -   4. Upright and rounded plant habit.    -   5. Free branching habit.    -   6. Double flowering habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU24’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Impatiens walleriana ‘183HF’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, including plant habit and flower color. however, plantsof the new cultivar ‘DANMU24’ produce a double flower, whereas ‘183HF’produces a single flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANMU24’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent, Impatiens walleriana ‘248HF’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, including plant habit and flower color. However, plantsof the new cultivar ‘DANMU24’ produce a double flower, whereas ‘248HF’produces a single flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of ‘DANMU24’ can be compared to the commercial variety‘BALOLESAL’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,648. However, plants of ‘DANMU24’ aremore compact and produce smaller leaves than the comparison variety.Plants of ‘DANMU24’ grown under comparable conditions to ‘BALOLESAL’reach a width of 30 cm, compared to 40 cm of ‘BALOLESAL’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANMU24’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 16 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of‘DANMU24.’

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANMU24’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20°C. to 25° C. during the day and 18° C. to 20° C. at night. Thegreenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar ‘DANMU24.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots:    -   -   Summer.—About 7 to 10 days at approximately 25° C.        -   Winter.—About 10 to 15 days at approximately 21° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, adventitious roots from cutting base.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting:    -   -   Summer.—About 15 to 18 days at approximately 25° C.        -   Winter.—About 18 to 21 days at approximately 21° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Compact, upright and rounded annual.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Height: Approximately 13 to 15 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 35 cm.-   Branching characteristics: Very free branching.-   Length of primary lateral brances: Approximately 14 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.3 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: Approximately 20 to 25.-   Stem:    -   -   Form.—Round in cross-section.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 193A., presence of red pattern on the            internodes.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Very strong.-   Internode length: Approximately 0.25 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 32 per main branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 4.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrulate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138C. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 138C. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Pattern: Midrib with secondary            veins on the abaxial side with no prominent veins on the            adaxial side. Venation color upper side: Near RHS Green            137A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.0 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            0.1 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color upper surface: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145D. Color lower surface: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145D.

FLOWER

-   -   -   Type and habit.—Round, double flowers.        -   Position.—Raised above the foliage.        -   Quantity per lateral branch.—About 15 flowers and buds            together per stem.        -   Lastingness on the plant.—About 10 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flowering season.—Spring until fall in outdoor conditions.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.0 to 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.

-   Buds:    -   -   Rate of opening.—About 3 to 4 days.        -   Length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Color (just before opening).—Near RHS Red 41C.

-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—About 25 to 50.        -   Arrangement.—Imbricate.        -   Length.—About 2 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Obcordate.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Near RHS Red 40C. When opening,            lower surface: Near RHS Red 41D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Near RHS Red 40C. Fully opened, lower surface: Near            RHS Red 41D.

-   Spurs:    -   -   Quantity.—One per flower.        -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Spur curvature 40°-45° from peduncle.        -   Color.—Towards base: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Apex: Near            RHS Greyed-Red 182A.

-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—2.        -   Length.—About 1.0 to 1.3 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.7 to1.0 cm.        -   Shape (overall).—Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 149D.

-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.1 cm.        -   Angle.—About 45° to the lateral branch.        -   Strength.—Stable, flexible.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Sterile, no reproductive organs.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not present, sterile.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Impatiens have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 10° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘DANMU24’ asherein illustrated and described.